Anti-Semitism Victims Urged to Fight Back

In the wake of four reports of anti-Semitic vandalism since June, an Anti-Defamation League official is urging victims of such hate crimes to fight back by discussing the incidents publicly and calling authorities.

“It is important to get together with neighbors and talk about it . . . and not just brush it under the rug,” said Jonathan Bernstein, the county’s regional director of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith.

Bernstein, along with an Orange County sheriff’s sergeant, spoke to about 45 residents at a community meeting Wednesday night to discuss a spate of anti-Semitic vandalism here. The incidents included the drawing of swastikas on the fence of one home and the lawn of another and over the doorway of the local public library.

Sheriff’s investigators said they do not know if the incidents are connected. No arrests have been made.

“When you see a series (of crimes) like this, you want to move on it,” Bernstein said Thursday. “I think some people see these (incidents) as simple pranks and they’re not. Hate crimes can have a more devastating impact on the victim than other crimes. There is an . . . emotional impact on the victim. The person is made to feel vulnerable.”

Many of the residents who attended the two-hour meeting at the Montecito Center expressed their outrage.

“It’s disgusting and it’s a horrible thing,” resident Anna Moore said. “There was a lot of concern. Absolutely.”

Some residents said that they feel a sense of helplessness when confronted with hate crimes committed by anonymous vandals.

“Unless you catch someone in the act, there isn’t anything you can do,” said Paula Avchen, another resident.

Anti-Defamation League officials said the vandalism in Rossmoor coincided with a slight increase in anti-Semitic incidents countywide. Last year, the league recorded 15 anti-Semitic incidents in Orange County, which included vandalism, harassment and assaults, Bernstein said. So far this year the group has already logged 18 such incidents, he said.

Bernstein said he hoped the meeting was a sign that people in the community were willing to take a stand against hate crimes. Those who came to the meeting “were all really coming out to condemn the activity and learning how to counteract” it, he said.

Vandalism in Rossmoor

Four incidents of anti-Semitic vandalism in Rossmoor have been reported this year to the local Anti-Defamation League office:

* June 25: Swastika was cut into the fence of a home.

* July 16: Anti-Semitic graffiti, including swastikas and the words White Power , were scrawled on a Rossmoor sidewalk.

* July 18: Swastika was burned into the lawn of a Jewish homeowner.

* Aug. 25: Swastika was found over the doorway of the local public library.

WHAT TO DO

The Anti-Defamation League recommends that victims document incidents with notes and/or photographs and that they call the police.

Source: Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith in Santa Ana